Howard gulps down a few mouthfuls of air. He knows he's wasting it, but he can't help it. Does it really matter, if they're going to die soon? What a few minutes longer, except for a few seconds of being miraculously, wonderfully alive?

Should he even bother to hope that that's Cedric's wand by his feet? Wouldn't it be ironic, to have it so close and be unable to reach it? He reaches an arm down, feels his fingertips brush against it, strains a little further. It's difficult, a painful position, but it's their last chance.

"I think..."

He can't dare hope he can't dare hope.

His fingers close around it. He straightens up sideways and brings it to Cedric's hand.

"Please please please let that be it..."